The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-03-10
A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT.
MANY PEOPLE RAN DOWN BY AN ELE-
Waited RAILROAD TRAIN.

Fire Delays the Trains, and Passengers
Take to the Track, Only to Be Swept on
and Dashed Down Twenty Five Feet Be-
Iowa List of the Dead and Injured.
NEW YORK, March 9.-An accident oc-
CURED this morning on the Third avenue
elevated railroad, between the Fourteenth
and Eighteenth street stations, by which
fourteen persons were precipitated rom tho
track to the street, twenty-five feet below.
The accident occurred at o'clock There
was blockade of all trains along the Third
avenue; occasioned by big fire in Nicolls
clothing establishment, in the Bowery. This
resulted in a pressure at all the stations, and
also caused great impatience among the pas
Sengers on the cars, mostly working people,
whose days labor began at z. The pressure
was greatest between the Fourteenth and
Eighteenth streets stations, where several
trains were blocked. Finally, about fifty
passengers, all men, left the cars and began
making their way along the narrow footboard
at the side of the track to the Fourteenth
street station. Just then the train began to
move without the slightest warning. This
resulted in panic among those nearest to
the platform Of the station who could not
reach the station house because Of the pro-
lection of the guard rail which reaches to the
track, and because Of the near approach Of
train which prevented them from getting
on the track, and thereby gaining the plat
form
One of the these adventurers, anxious to
reach the station, tried to get there before
the slowly approaching train, but just as he
was about to grasp the rail to pull himself
upon the platform he missed his grasp, and,
stumbling, threw those directly following
him into one confused mass, and some four
teen fell off the narrow plank walk into the
street. Some were precipitated headlong,
and as they struck the cobble stones, twenty
1--WE feet below, their brains were dashed
out and their blood spattered on passers by.
So far as can be ascertained four people we're
killed outright and ten or a dozen others
more or less seriously injured.
Mr. G. NJ. Bailey, secretary to Manager
Hahn, gives out the following, which is the
official statement of the company: cat 4:50
this morning a fire broke out in the establish
ment of Nicoll, the tailor, in the Bowery,
near Broome street. This fire ragged furi-
ously for time, and completely blocked the
uluShf LSVWCOA vi ebhA eAhN
Houston streets, on the Bowery. The electric
block signal was at once rung off at all sta
lions, indicating that the line was blocked
and the night dispatchers at Chatham Square
and Ninetieth street were also notified and
arranged to turn south trains at Ninth
street. At this point there is a cross-over
track, but the facilities at that place are
somewhat limited, and slight block Of the
- IL
During this block and at 6:42 o'clock, a train
was held at the Fourteenth street station on
the south-bound track, and there was an
other train on the same track Immediately
behind it,
"These trains were well filed with passen-
gers and principally with laboring men on
their way to work The laboring men In
sisted upon leaving the cars and those on the
last train, which was above the station plat
form, got out of the cars of that train and
started to walk to the station. While a num-
Der of these men were still walking on the
track, the track ahead was cleared and the
train which had been held at the Fourteenth
street station moved Off One Of the passen-
gers who was walking on the track, observ-
ing this, and being anxious to get down town,
climbed on to the step on the extreme end Of
the moving train. While in this position, his
body extended out beyond the side Of
the car, the platform gate of the car
being of course closed at the time, and while
In this position, with his body protruding
from the side Of the car, he came in contact
with the passengers who were moving along
the track walk, sweeping them Off like
fash from the walk into the street below.
This man managed to get on the train, and
his identity has not been established. At the
time of the accident the second train was not
In motion at all.
Secretary Bailey says that with three or
four trainmen Of the train it was impossible
10 prevent the car load of laboring men who
were passengers, from getting off the cars
and walking on the track. Notwithstanding
this the company claim that there was plenty
Of room on the walk on the side Of the track
for the passengers who got off the train to
reach the station in safety if 1t had not been
for the foolhardiness of the passenger who
climbed upon the step of the rear platform Of
the moving train.
The following names of the killed and in
jured were received at the company's office
this morning: Patrick Matthews, 214 East
Twenty fourth street, dead James Mccarthy,
814 East Forty-eighth street, hip and back
badly injured; Robert Soumaker, 1857 Ave-
nue. A, badly injured William Kennedy,
el2 East Eighty-fourth street, back and side
injured; James Lyle, 166 East Eighty-eighth
street, badly injured; Emil Weller, 2O7 East
Ninety-third street, general contusions; an
unknown man, badly hurt and unconscious;
Jose Girandier, 334 East Thirty eighth street,
general contusons and fractured ribs
J. W. Lyons, 1876 East Eighty-eighth
street, confusion and collarbone broken
There were eight persons wounded.
The unknown man referred to in the list of
wounded, died at the New York hospital
shortly after noon to-day. His injuries con-
sisted of wound on the head and con-
fusion of the spine. He was unconscious
from the time he fell In his pocket was
found card inscribed, &c. Schultze, jew
eler, 1179 Third avenue" and also the fol-
lowing entry in diary, "Mr. Bergin, DR.. to
John O'Connor"
Attempted Suicide.
RATTTM0RE March 0-William 7 Rain